Bishop Peter James Lee of the Diocese of Virginia has removed 21 clergy from the Episcopal priesthood. Twentytwo had been inhibited in January after the diocesan Standing
Committee determined that they had abandoned the Communion of The Episcopal Church. One inhibited clergy member has chosen to retract association with the group.
Monday he was praised as a “great leader” by The Right Rev. Bob Duncan, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network. Tuesday an Ecclesiastical Court in
The Diocese of Pittsburgh is furnishing its parishes with a toolbox of “materials, opinions and news about the choices facing the diocese and each parish in light of the decision of The Episcopal Church not to place moratoria on same-sex blessings and the election of bishops in same-sex relationships and to unequivocally reject the request of Pittsburgh and six other dioceses for Alternative Primatial Oversight.”
At issue is an aging and shrinking congregation, resulting in diminished annual giving. And with fewer members, the number of clergy and staffers needed to serve the congregation decreased. Half the congregation is age 60 and above and more than three-fourths are 50 and older.
A letter released today by the Diocese of Massachusetts clarifies the status of the Rev. William Murdoch who has been elected a bishop of the Anglican Province of Kenya.
Court records reveal that the Diocese of Los Angeles has won its case, on appeal, against St. James, Newport Beach, St. David’s and All Saints.
This summer, Episcopalians in at least 20 dioceses are reaching out to them — children under under the radar of government aid — by sending them to summer camp for a week of learning and fun. Read Val Hymes’ report.
The most recent development in the court battle came last week, when the congregation that remained with the Episcopal diocese appealed an April ruling by Judge Thomas Cooper to deny the diocese ownership of the church property. He upheld a 1745 deed that said the church real estate is held in trust for the benefit of the people of the Waccamaw Neck, for the establishment of an Anglican church. That means that neither the Episcopal Diocese nor the Anglican Mission in the Americas can lay claim to the church property.
In his sermon, the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta, urged Bishop Johnston to “wear us out! Wear us out with the promise of the resurrection!” “It was a delight to see 30 bishops of the Church gather to celebrate, and an utter delight to hear Fodor perform” Bach’s Ciaccona, Bishop Jefferts Schori said. “The music and the preaching were all right on target,” Bishop Gibbs said. “It’s all about resurrection. We finally got back on message. Thanks be to God!”
This past weekend, Bishop Robert Duncan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh told diocesan leaders that “We’re here together to discuss our way forward in light of our failure to obtain Alternative Primatial Oversight … We are facing something that we never thought we would face. We thought we would prevail. We thought that what we believed and what the majority of the Communion believed would be provided for.” In other words, the diocese is admitting the path they have been pursuing will no longer work.